The Responsive City is a compelling guide to civic engagement and
governance in the digital age that will help municipal leaders link
important breakthroughs in technology and data analytics with age-old
lessons of small-group community input to create more agile, competitive
and economically resilient cities. The book is co-authored by Professor Stephen Goldsmith, director of Data-Smart City Solutions at Harvard Kennedy School, and Professor Susan Crawford, co-director of Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg penned the book’s foreword.

Based on the authors’ experiences and extensive research, The Responsive City explores topics including:
• Building trust in the public sector and fostering a sustained, collective voice among communities;
• Using data-smart governance to preempt and predict problems while improving quality of life;
• Creating efficiencies and saving taxpayer money with digital tools; and
• Spearheading these new approaches to government with innovative leadership.

“Now, more than ever, substantive reform in governance is critical for
civic leaders to meet the needs of a rapidly growing urban population,”
Stephen Goldsmith explains. “Fortunately, data and technology can
fundamentally change the way government operates, breaking down
hierarchies and silos, enabling preventive action, incorporating
citizens into every aspect of governance, and increasing overall
efficiency.”

A confluence of new technologies has created an opportune time for
substantive reform. Already, several forward-looking cities are
implementing digital innovations to create local governments that are
more transparent, responsive, accountable and cost-effective. As The
Responsive City underscores, the results so far have been highly
promising. Featuring case studies highlighting the work of individuals
in New York, Boston, Chicago and more, the book provides a model for the
future of governance.

But technology alone cannot power change. The Responsive City
concludes with a challenge to its readers: data-smart governance needs a
cadre of city officials and innovators to lead the charge and empower
public employees with the discretion to translate these technological
advances into action.

Susan Crawford explains, "We have found heroes in city halls and
communities around the world who are using technology to improve the
lives of citizens and make local government more responsive to human
needs. This book tells their stories and underscores the crucial role of
leadership—at all levels—in transforming civic life." With greater
civic engagement and leaders who challenge the status quo, the digital
revolution will thicken the bonds of democracy and create government
that is truly “of the people, by the people and for the people.”

The Responsive City is the culmination of research originating from the Data-Smart City Solutions initiative,
an ongoing project at Harvard Kennedy School working to catalyze
adoption of data projects on the city level. Additional information,
including a link to purchase the book, can be found on Amazon.com or on
the publisher’s website. Updates, further details on the cases in the book, and additional content will be available on the Data-Smart City Solutions website throughout the fall. Join the conversation on Twitter with #TheResponsiveCity.

Selected Advanced Praise

“In these pages, Goldsmith and Crawford expertly chronicle the
now-global movement to improve governance through technology. Chicago
embraced that movement early to become the leader in effectively
leveraging data to meet the demand for a more responsive city.”
—Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago

“Steve Goldsmith and Susan Crawford offer a fascinating report from the
frontier of innovation in government with the engaging stories of
citizens working to replace the bureaucratic systems of the past with
effective and accountable government for the twenty-first century.”
—Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives

“Focusing on outcomes for (and with) the public instead of compliance
with rigid procedures is the hard work of local government in the
twenty-first century. Goldsmith and Crawford show the way with
real-world examples and an infectious optimism. This book matters to
everyone who cares not just about city hall but about trust and faith in
government in the modern era.”
—Jennifer Pahlka, founder and executive director, Code for America; former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer

About the Authors

Stephen Goldsmith is the Daniel Paul Professor of the Practice of
Government, director of the Innovations in Government Program, and
director of Data-Smart City Solutions at Harvard Kennedy School. He
previously served as Deputy Mayor of New York and Mayor of Indianapolis.
He is a nationally-recognized expert on government management, reform,
and innovation.

Susan Crawford is a Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School and
co-director of Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society. She is
the author of Captive Audience: The Telecom Industry and Monopoly Power
in the New Gilded Age and a contributor to Bloomberg View. She served
as Special Assistant to the President for Science, Technology, and
Innovation Policy.

About the Data-Smart City Solutions Initiative
A part of the Ash Center’s Innovations in Government Program, Data-Smart
City Solutions is working to catalyze adoption of data projects on the
local government level by serving as a central resource for cities
interested in this emerging field. Data-Smart City Solutions highlights
best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also
connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. For
more information, visit http://datasmart.ash.harvard.edu/.